Towing shackle and hull for towing ship

Abstract

Disclosed is a hull for a towing vessel, comprising a deck and a towing shackle for guiding a towing cable. The tow shackle includes a guide element having a symmetric extension in a first plane parallel to the deck, where the guide element includes first and second mounting sections that mount the guide element to the hull. The first and second mounting sections are connected by a main section of the guide element. The guide element includes a trailing cable guide surface on a deck-facing underside of the main section, the trailing cable guide surface configured to slidably contact the trailing cable during a towing process such that the trailing cable is free to move along a perimeter of the main section in a first plane, meanwhile, movement is limited by the main portion section in the direction perpendicular to the first plane. The towing shackle further comprises a support element arranged on the top side of the main section and extending from the top side of the guide element at an angle to the first plane to a second plane perpendicular to the first plane and extending through the first and second mounting sections.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the patent application for “Towing staple and hull for towing vessel” with application number 202180009368.2 and filing date 02 / 02 / 2021. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of vessel towing. The present disclosure relates to a towing staple for a hull of a towing vessel and a hull of a towing vessel comprising said towing staple. BACKGROUND

[0003] Towing vessels, such as tugboats / tugs, are secondary vessels used to maneuver other, usually larger vessels, by pushing or pulling them with the help of direct contact or with the help of a towing line. Tugboats usually move vessels with limited self-mobility, such as vessels located in congested ports or narrow canals, or vessels that are unable to move on their own, such as barges, damaged vessels, rafts or oil platforms.

[0004] Without the help of more flexible and maneuverable towing vessels, larger vessels, such as mega vessels, would not be able to enter a port or at least would have difficulty doing so.

[0005] Tugboats can use their propulsion systems and / or the hydrodynamic properties of the hull to generate forces for maneuvering the towed vessel. Tugboats can operate in a direct towing mode or in an indirect towing mode. During direct mode operation, a towline force is generated on the towing line due to the pulling of the tugboat’s propulsion system. Thus, operations such as stopping or reducing the initial movement of the towed vessel or assisting the towed vessel during a turn are performed by keeping the tugboat parallel to the centerline of the vessel or open to the corresponding side of the towed vessel.

[0006] During indirect towing, also known as dynamic towing, the tugboat usually follows the towed vessel and exerts a force on the towed vessel to turn and / or slow it down. The propulsion system of the tugboat can be used to place and maintain the hull of the tugboat at an angle with respect to the towed vessel. Thus, the hull of the vessel will form a hydrodynamic force opposite to the direction of travel of the towed vessel. By positioning one side of the tugboat, such as the starboard or port side, opposite to the direction of travel of the towed vessel, the hull of the tugboat will provide a large surface opposite to the direction of flow of the water, thus generating a drag force that can be transmitted to the towed vessel to turn and / or slow it down. The tugboat controls the slowing down and / or turning by maintaining a reference angle corresponding to the direction of the water flow opposite to the direction taken by the towed vessel. The port side is the side of the vessel to the left of an observer facing the bow, i.e., facing the front of the direction of travel of the vessel when it is sailing, and the starboard side is the right side of such an observer.

[0007] The towing equipment of a tugboat is the key link in transferring the force generated by the tugboat to the towed vessel. The towing equipment can comprise various elements which can differ for different types of tugboats. These elements are in the simplest version just a tow bitt and a tow rope or a tow hook and a tow rope. However, the towing equipment can also comprise a tow winch, a fairlead, a towline and / or a tow pin. Each element of the towing equipment must be strong enough or designed to be able to cope with the large forces generated in the towline. Because the forces are large, the towline is usually heavy and strong. A failure of any element in the towing equipment can result in the towline snapping or sweeping across the deck of the tugboat, which can result in injuries to the crew working on the deck of the tugboat.

[0008] Another key aspect is the position of the towing point, where the towing point should be interpreted herein as the point on the tugboat from which the towline goes directly to the towed vessel. The towline can be connected to the tugboat through a tow hook, a tow winch and / or can be fixed to a tow bitt, which can all be referred to as the towing point if they are the point on the tugboat from which the towline goes directly to the towed vessel. The position of the towing point can differ for different types of tugboats. A danger of using a towline to tow is the risk of rolling and capsizing. Rolling can occur when the towline is positioned at right angles to the tugboat, for example during indirect towing when the hull of the tugboat is positioned perpendicular to the towed vessel. If the towline is fixed near the middle of the tugboat and positioned at right angles to the tugboat, the towline under tension will exert a heeling moment on the tugboat. As with any vessel heeling to one side, such as the starboard or port side, a righting lever can form as the center of buoyancy of the tugboat moves towards the center of the underwater volume of the tugboat, the righting lever counteracts the heeling moment and pushes the tugboat back to an upright position again. However, if the force in the towline is large enough, it can overcome the righting lever of the tugboat, which can result in the deck edges being submerged, flooding and capsizing, also referred to as rolling, unless the towline is released in time. Rolling can occur very quickly and there have been incidents where crew members have failed to escape in time.

[0009] A known solution to solve the problem of rolling is to use a carousel-type tugboat, where winches are mounted to a ring bearing arranged around the accommodation building of the tugboat. The towing point is located on the circumference of the ring bearing at a distance from the middle of the tugboat. The winches and the towing point can be rotated 360 degrees around the accommodation building using a movable track. However, this solution has the disadvantage that it requires a drive system and many moving parts to move the winches, which makes it expensive and prone to failure. SUMMARY

[0010] Therefore, there is a need for a towing solution which alleviates, mitigates or solves the existing drawbacks and which provides a reliable and cost-effective towing solution which reduces the risk of failure and injuries to crew members.

[0011] A hull for a towing vessel is disclosed. The hull comprises a deck, a living quarter comprising a stern or bow facing wall, and a towing shackle for guiding a towing line. The towing shackle comprises a guiding element having a symmetrical extension in a first plane parallel to the deck. The guiding element comprises a first mounting section and a second mounting section mounting the guiding element to the hull in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The first mounting section and the second mounting section are connected by a main section of the guiding element, wherein the guiding element comprises a towing line guiding surface on a bottom side of the main section facing the deck. The towing line guiding surface is configured to slidably contact the towing line during a towing process such that the towing line is freely movable along a circumference of the main section in the first plane while being limited in movement in a direction perpendicular to the first plane. The towing shackle further comprises a support element. The support element is arranged on a top side of the main section and extends from the top side of the guiding element to a second plane at an angle to the first plane, the second plane being perpendicular to the first plane, the second plane being located on the stern or bow facing wall of the living quarter and extending through the first mounting section and the second mounting section.

[0012] Further, a towing shackle for a towing vessel is provided. The towing shackle is configured to guide a towing line. The towing shackle comprises a guiding element having a symmetrical extension in a first plane. The guiding element comprises a first mounting section and a second mounting section for mounting the guiding element to a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the first mounting section and the second mounting section are connected by a main section of the guiding element. The guiding element comprises a towing line guiding surface on a bottom side of the main section. The towing line guiding surface is configured to slidably contact the towing line during a towing process such that the towing line is freely movable along a circumference of the main section in the first plane while being limited in movement in a direction perpendicular to the first plane. The towing shackle further comprises a support element, wherein the support element is arranged on a top side of the main section and extends from the top side of the guiding element to the second plane at an angle to the first plane, the second plane being located on the stern or bow facing wall of the living quarter.

[0013] An advantage of the present disclosure is that the tow hook ring acts as a tow point when it is in contact with the tow line and reduces the position of the tow point relative to the deck of the towing vessel and moves the tow point closer to the side of the hull of the towing vessel. By reducing the tow point, the heeling moment formed by the tow line force and acting on the hull of the towing vessel is reduced. Furthermore, by moving the tow point closer to the side of the towing vessel, the heeling arm can be reduced while the righting arm is increased. Thus, the tow hook ring of the present disclosure improves the stability of the towing vessel and improves the maneuverability of the towing vessel as well as the direct and indirect towing performance. By adding a support element to the tow hook ring, the stiffness of the tow hook ring is further increased, which reduces the risk of failure of the tow hook ring and injury to crew members due to tow line guiding malfunctions.

[0014] Furthermore, the solution according to the present disclosure does not comprise any movable parts, which reduces the cost of the solution and improves the reliability of the solution.

[0015] Thus, the tow hook ring according to the present disclosure improves the maneuverability, direct and indirect towing performance, and stability for a towing vessel while reducing the cost and improving the reliability compared to existing towing solutions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be easily understood from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1A a side view of a first exemplary towing vessel according to the present disclosure is shown,

[0018] Figure 1B a top view of a first exemplary towing vessel according to the present disclosure is shown,

[0019] Figure 2A a side view of a second exemplary towing vessel according to the present disclosure is shown,

[0020] Figure 2B a top view of a second exemplary towing vessel according to the present disclosure is shown,

[0021] Figure 3A a top view of an exemplary tow hook ring according to the present disclosure is shown,

[0022] Figure 3B a side view of an exemplary tow hook ring according to the present disclosure is shown, and

[0023] Figure 4 an exemplary tow hook ring comprising a lubrication system according to the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Various exemplary embodiments and details are described hereinbelow. It should be noted that the drawings can or can not be to scale and that, unless otherwise noted, the same or corresponding elements throughout the figures are referred to with the same or similar reference numerals. It should also be noted that the figures are solely for purposes of illustrating the embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the embodiments shown are not necessarily to scale or to the actual proportions of the various parts. Aspects or features of a particular embodiment are not necessarily limited to that embodiment.

[0025] For clarity, the drawings are schematic and simplified and only show details that are required for understanding the disclosure, while other details are omitted. Throughout, identical or corresponding elements are referred to with the same reference numerals.

[0026] Figure 1A and Figure 1B A hull 1 for a towing vessel, such as a tugboat, according to one or more embodiments herein is shown in Figure 1A a side view and in Figure 1B a top view of the hull 1. The hull 1 comprises a deck 13, such as a main deck of the vessel, and a towing eye 14 for guiding a towing line 10. The deck 13 can be a first deck arranged above the waterline of the hull. The towing line 10 can be a towing line arranged on the hull 1 or can be a towing line arranged on a vessel being towed. When the towing line 10 is arranged on the hull 1 it can be connected to a winch 12 mounted to the hull 1 which allows the towing line to be extended and retracted by being wound up or unwound from the winch 12. The winch 12 can be arranged in a transverse midship, such as centered around a hull longitudinal axis extending from the bow to the stern at the center of the hull 1. The towing eye 14 comprises a guiding element 20 having a symmetrical or at least substantially symmetrical extension in a first plane parallel to the deck 13. The first plane can be substantially horizontal, such as having a normal that is vertical. The guiding element 20 comprises a first mounting section 21A and a second mounting section 21B for mounting the guiding element 14A to the hull 1 in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The first mounting section 21A and the second mounting section 21B are connected by a main section 22 of the guiding element 20.

[0027] The guiding element 20 comprises a towing line guiding surface 23 on a bottom side of the main section 22 facing the deck 13. The towing line guiding surface 23 is configured to slidably contact the towing line 10 during towing such that the towing line is free to move along the perimeter of the main section 22 in the first plane while being limited to move in a direction perpendicular to the first plane by the main section 22.

[0028] The towing shackle further comprises a support element 16. The support element 16 is arranged on a top side of the main section 22, such as the side of the main section facing in a direction opposite to the guiding surface 23, and extends from the top side of the guiding element 20 to the second plane at an angle to the first plane. Thus, the support element 16 is able to take up forces from the towing cable 10 and guide them into the hull 1 of the towing vessel, and reduce the bending moments in the towing shackle. The support element 16 thus increases the stiffness of the towing shackle 14 and allows the towing shackle to take up higher towing forces without deforming and / or breaking.

[0029] The mounting sections 21A, 21B can be detachably mounted to the hull by fastening means such as nuts and bolts, or fixedly mounted to the hull 1, e.g. by welding to the hull 1. When the towing shackle 14 is welded to the hull 1, it can be an integral part of the hull 1, with the benefit of increasing the stiffness of the towing shackle, thereby reducing the risk of the towing shackle 14 failing during towing. The towing shackle 14 can comprise or be mounted to one or more vertically arranged beams for mounting the first and second mounting sections 21A, 21B to the hull 1. The one or more beams can extend through the hull 1 in the vertical direction, and can be an integral part of the hull 1.

[0030] The hull 1 can comprise a chock 15 for guiding the towing cable 10. The chock 15 can be arranged at the center of the hull 1, such as in the transverse ship center along a longitudinal center plane of the hull 1. The towing cable 10 can be fed from the winch through the chock 15, such that the towing cable exits the chock 15 in the area of the longitudinal center plane of the hull 1. The longitudinal center plane is herein to be interpreted as a plane extending through the center of the hull 1 in the longitudinal direction, such as from the near aft to the aft of the hull 1. Thus, the longitudinal center plane can constitute a plane of symmetry of the hull 1 in the longitudinal direction. The towing shackle 14 can be arranged on the hull 1 such that the chock 15 is arranged along the longitudinal center plane of the towing shackle 14. Preferably, the towing shackle 14 can be mounted in the center of the hull 1, such that the longitudinal center plane of the hull 1 and the longitudinal center plane of the towing shackle 14 can correspond. Thus, the towing characteristics of the towing vessel will be equal on the port and starboard sides of the hull 1. The towing cable 10 is then fed upwards at an angle between the towing shackle 14 of the hull 1 and the deck 13 to the usually much larger vessel being towed, such that the towing cable 10 is in contact with the towing cable guiding surface 23.

[0031] The guiding element 20 of the towing hook 14 can be shaped such that the distance from the chock to the towing line guiding surface 23 of the guiding element 20 varies over the circumference of the guiding element 20. Thus, the towing line 10 extending from the chock 15 to the guiding element 20 and in sliding contact with the towing line guiding surface 23 will not rub against the towing hook 14 with the same area of the towing line 10 during the towing process. This reduces the risk of a towing line failure, as the friction on the towing line does not continuously act on the same area.

[0032] The guiding element 20 of the towing hook 14 can have an arcuate form when viewed in the first plane. The arcuate can be, for example, a U-shape, a semi-circle, a semi-ellipse, a parabola, a horseshoe, etc. The guiding element 20 can have a U-shape when viewed in the first plane, as shown in the example of Fig. 2. Figure 1A and Figure 1B The example guiding element 20 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 has a U-shape, such that the main section 22 comprises two parallel sections 22A and one curved section 22B. The end sections of the two parallel sections 22A of the U-shaped guiding element 20 can constitute mounting sections 21A, 21B for mounting the guiding element 20 to the hull 1, such as a vertical wall of the hull 1, such as a transverse bulwark of the hull 1.

[0033] The towing hook 14 can span an angle of view a of at least 140° when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal centerline of the hull 1 from the chock 15. In some embodiments, the towing hook 14 can span an angle of view a of at least 170°, preferably at least 180°. Thus, the hull 1 of the towing vessel can be positioned at an angle of 70° to 90° with the vessel being towed in both port and starboard directions, thereby increasing the drag force created by the hull 1 when using the hydrodynamic forces of the hull as a floating anchor, such as during indirect towing. This improves the maneuverability of the towing vessel as well as the direct and indirect towing performance.

[0034] The width of the guiding element 20, such as the distance between the first mounting section 21 A and the second mounting section 21 B, can be adapted, such as configured, to move the towing point away from the longitudinal centre line of the hull 1 towards the outside, such as the port or starboard side, of the hull 1. The towing shackle 14 can be arranged within the inner periphery of the hull 1 so that the towing cable and / or the crew working on the deck 13 can pass between the towing shackle 14 and the side of the towing vessel, such as the rail, in an undisturbed manner. Thus, the actual width W of the guiding element 20 depends on the dimensions of the hull 1. The width W can be in the range of 20% to 95% of the width of the hull 1 at the corresponding longitudinal position. In some embodiments, the width W is at least 2m, preferably at least 6m, such as at least 10m. Increasing the width of the guiding element 20, which corresponds to increasing the distance from the fairlead to the guiding element in the port or starboard direction, increases the lever arm of the upward force from the towing cable 10 connected to the towed vessel. Thus, the restoring moment countering the roll moment acting on the towing vessel is increased and thus the risk of capsizing of the vessel is reduced.

[0035] The guiding element 20 of the towing shackle 14 can be arranged closer to the deck 13 than the fairlead 15. By arranging the guiding element 20 closer to the deck 13 than the fairlead 15, the towing point will be lowered compared to if the fairlead would constitute the towing point, which would be the case if no towing wing shackle is used. The distance h, such as in the vertical direction, from the towing cable contact surface 23 of the guiding element 20 of the towing shackle 14 to the deck 13 can be in the range of 10cm to 200cm. By reducing the distance h, the towing point is lowered, which reduces the lever arm of the towing cable force and creates a heeling moment. Thus, by reducing the distance h, the heeling moment acting on the hull 1 during towing is reduced, which increases the stability of the towing vessel and reduces the risk of rolling and capsizing.

[0036] The support element 16 can extend from the top side of the guiding element 20 facing away from the deck 13 to the connection point 17, which is further from the deck in the vertical direction of the hull 1 than the fairlead 15. The support element 16 increases the stiffness of the towing shackle 14 and reduces the movement of the guiding element in the upward direction due to the towing force, which can lead to fatigue and eventual failure of the material of the guiding element 20. The support element 16 can be dimensioned to withstand the maximum towing force that the towing vessel can generate on the towing cable 10.

[0037] Figure 2A and Figure 2B A hull 1 for a towing vessel according to one or more embodiments herein is shown in Figure 2A the left side view and in Figure 2BFig. 1 is a top view of a hull 1 comprising a living quarter 19 for providing accommodation for personnel on board a vessel, such as crew members, the living quarter 19 comprising a wall 19A facing the stern or bow. The second plane is located on the wall 19A facing the stern or bow of the living quarter 19. As can be seen in Figure 2A and Figure 2B The exemplary support element 16 comprises a sheet, such as one or more sheet elements, extending from the top side of the guide element 20 to the connection point 17 on the second plane perpendicular to the first plane, such that the support element 16 forms a shell covering the guide element 20. The towline 10 can be routed through the living quarter 19 and can exit the living quarter 19 through a chock 15 arranged in the wall 19A facing the bow or stern. The support element 16 can have a first edge 16A arranged along the top side of the guide element 20 on the circumference of the guide element 20 and following said circumference. The support element 16 can have a second edge 16B parallel to the second plane and mounted to the hull 1 at the second plane, such as to the wall 19A facing the bow or stern. Thus, the support element 16 forms a shell, such as a roof, covering the guide element 20. The shell can have the shape of a dome or a cone, extending at an angle from the guide element 20 to the second plane and / or towards the second plane. By enclosing the top side of the guide element, a cone- or dome-shaped box construction is formed, which increases the stiffness of the tow hook 14. The shell further reduces the risk of a cable, such as a towline or a leadline, thrown from a vessel to be towed onto the towing vessel from the top into the tow hook, in which case the towline would not touch the towline contact surface 23 and / or get entangled and jammed by a protruding object located on the deck 13 of the towing vessel. The sheet, such as one or more sheet elements, provides a smooth surface on top of the tow hook 14. The smooth surface allows the cable to slide over the tow hook and onto the deck of the towing vessel, from where the cable can be manually or automatically connected to the towline 10 and pulled from under the tow hook onto the vessel to be towed. The inclination and the smooth outer surface of the support element 16 prevent the cable thrown from the towed vessel from getting jammed in obstacles on the deck of the towing vessel. The shell can also act as a shelter or cover for the crew working on the deck of the towing vessel, which reduces the risk of the crew being hit and injured by the thrown cable.

[0038] Figure 3A and Figure 3B From Figure 3A a top view and Figure 3BA side view of the towing hook 14 of the towing vessel. The towing hook is configured to guide a towline, such as during a towing process. The towing hook 14 comprises a guiding element 20 and a support element 16. The guiding element 20 has a symmetrical extension in a first plane, wherein the first plane is a plane that is essentially horizontal when the towing hook is mounted to a hull of a vessel. The guiding element 20 comprises a first mounting section 21 A and a second mounting section 21 B for mounting the guiding element 20 to a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane. The second plane can for example be a vertical wall of the hull of the vessel. The first mounting section 21 A and the second mounting section 21 B are connected by a main section 22 of the guiding element 20. The guiding element 20 comprises a towline guiding surface 23 on a bottom side of the main section 22, wherein the towline guiding surface 23 is configured to slidably contact a towline during a towing process. Thus, the towline is free to move in the first plane along the periphery of the main section 22, while being limited in movement in a direction perpendicular to the first plane by the main section 22. The towline guiding surface 23 can extend uninterrupted along the entire circumference of the guiding element. Uninterrupted should be interpreted herein as extending along the main section 22 of the guiding element 20 from the first mounting section 21 A to the second mounting section 21 B. However, the towline guiding surface 23 including openings, for example for a lubrication system, is not contradictory to the towline guiding surface 23 extending uninterrupted. In order to reduce the frictional forces on the towline, the towline guiding surface 23 can be coated with a friction-reducing coating.

[0039] The support element 16 is arranged on a top side of the main section 22 of the guiding element 20 and extends from the top side of the guiding element 20 to the second plane at an angle to the first plane. The support element 16 can have a bottom end 16A and a top end 16B, wherein the bottom end 16A is arranged on the guiding element 20 and the top end 16B is configured for mounting to a mounting area located in the second plane. The second plane can be perpendicular to the first plane. The second plane can for example extend through the first mounting section 21 A and the second mounting section 21 B of the guiding element 20. The support element 16 is configured to counteract forces induced by the towline 10 on the towline contact surface 23 of the guiding element 20. Thus, forces applied to the guiding element 20 can be distributed from the point of contact of the towline 10 through the support element 16 into a mounting structure to which the towing hook can be attached, such as a hull of a towing vessel.

[0040] The guiding element 20 can have an arcuate form when viewed in the first plane. The arcuate form is herein to be understood as the first and second sections are arranged at a distance from each other and parallel to each other, and the first and second sections are connected by one or more curved sections. The arcuate form provides a symmetrical shape to the tow hook, providing corresponding contact points for the towline on both sides of the centre line of the arcuate form. Thus, the hull will have the same stability and towing performance during the towing process, regardless of which side of the tugboat the towed vessel is located. Furthermore, by adjusting the properties of the arcuate form, such as size and / or shape, the wear of the towline can be reduced. The arcuate can be, for example, a U-shape, a semi-circle, a semi-ellipse, a parabola, a horseshoe, etc. In Figure 4 In the example embodiment shown, the guiding element 20 has a U-shape when viewed in the first plane, such that the main body portion 22 comprises two parallel sections 22A and one curved section 22B, where the end sections of the two parallel sections 22A of the U-shaped guiding element 20 constitute the mounting sections 21A, 21B. The shape and size of the guiding element 20 can be configured such that the distance from the intersection of the first and second planes, which can be the position of the towing point when the tow hook 14 is mounted to the hull 1, to a position on the guiding surface 23 varies over the circumference of the guiding element 20. By varying the distance from the intersection to the towline guiding surface over the circumference of the guiding element 20, the contact point of the towline 10 on the guiding element 20 will not continuously rub on the same point on the towline when the towline is moved along the periphery of the guiding element 20, for example from the port side to the starboard side of the guiding element 20, thereby reducing the risk of towline failure.

[0041] In Figure 3A and Figure 3BIn the illustrated exemplary tow hook 14, the support element 16 comprises a sheet that extends from the top side of the guide element 20 to and / or towards the second plane, such that the support element 16 forms a housing, such as a roof, covering the guide element 20. The housing can have the shape of a dome or a cone, extending at an angle from the guide element 20 to and / or towards the second plane. In other words, the support element can be arranged to be tilted with respect to the first plane and / or the second plane. By enclosing the top side of the guide element 20, a box shape is formed, which increases the rigidity of the tow hook 14. The housing reduces the risk of a cable, such as a towline or a leadline, thrown from the to-be-towed vessel onto the towing vessel, entering the tow hook from the top, such that the cable will not touch the towline contact surface 23 and / or get entangled and caught by a protruding object located on the deck of the towing vessel. The sheet provides a smooth surface on top of the tow pin 14, which allows the cable to slide over the tow pin and onto the deck of the towing vessel, where the cable can be manually or automatically connected to the towline 10 and pulled from below the tow pin onto the to-be-towed vessel. The housing of the tow hook 14 prevents the cable thrown from the to-be-towed vessel from getting caught in obstacles on the deck of the towing vessel. The housing can also act as a shelter or cover for the crew working on the deck of the towing vessel, which reduces the risk of the crew being hit and injured by the cable thrown from the to-be-towed vessel.

[0042] The sheet of the support element 16 can have a first edge 16A arranged along the top side of the guide element 20 on and following the circumference of the guide element 20, and a second edge 16B parallel to the second plane. The second edge 16B can act as a mounting area for mounting the tow hook 14 to the hull of the vessel. The tow hook 14 can be welded to the hull, for example along the second edge 16B, such that a rigid connection is formed between the hull and the second edge 16B of the support element. By increasing the attachment surface between the hull 1 and the support element 16, the rigidity of the tow hook can be improved. By enclosing the guide element 20, the rigidity of the guide element 20 and the force distribution from the guide element can be further increased, as the support element 16 abuts a large portion of the circumference of the guide element 20, rather than just a small area of the guide element 20. In some embodiments, the support element 16 can be shaped as a truncated cone, such that the support element 16 comprises a horizontal section 16C arranged at a distance from the guide element 20 and parallel to the first plane. Thus, the tilted section of the support element 16 can extend from the guide element 20 to the horizontal section 16C of the support element 16. The horizontal section 16C can follow the shape of the guide element 20, but can be smaller in size.

[0043] The guide element 20 and the support element 16 can be made of metal, such as any material suitable for marine use, such as steel, stainless steel, aluminium or similar.

[0044] Figure 4 A towing shackle as seen from the surface 23 facing the towing line is shown according to some embodiments herein. In order to further reduce the friction force of the towing line 10, the guiding element 20 can comprise a lubrication system for lubricating the towing line during the towing process. The lubrication system can comprise a plurality of openings 18 in the towing line guiding surface 23 of the guiding element 20 and a lubricant feeding system for feeding lubricant through the plurality of openings 18 onto the towing line 10 to reduce the friction between the towing line and the towing line guiding surface. The lubricant can for example be water, such as sea water. The lubricant feeding system can also comprise a pump for feeding the lubricant onto the towing line. The solution with the plurality of openings has the benefit that it is cost effective and reliable since it does not comprise any moving parts.

[0045] In some embodiments, a lubricant comprising an additive with friction reducing properties can be used. The lubricant can be fed from a tank located on the towing vessel. In some embodiments, the lubrication system can comprise one or more nozzles (not shown in Figure 4 ) for spraying lubricant, where the nozzles can be arranged in the towing line guiding surface 23 of the guiding element 20 and directed such that the nozzles spray lubricant onto the towing line 10. The benefit of providing the lubrication system with nozzles is that the amount of lubrication fed to the towing line can be controlled and directed only to certain areas of the guiding element 20 where the towing line contacts the guiding element, which can reduce the waste of lubricant. In order to further reduce the waste of lubricant and to prevent the lubricant from ending up in the sea, a lubricant collection and recirculation system can be included in the lubrication system. The lubricant collection and recirculation system can comprise a collector arranged below the towing line guiding surface 23, such as in the hull 1 of the towing vessel, for collecting excess lubricant. A further pump can be connected to the collector and can feed the collected lubricant back into the tank.

[0046] It should be noted that the features mentioned in the embodiments described in Figure 4 are not limited to these specific embodiments. Thus, any feature mentioned in relation to the towing shackle 14 and the components comprised therein, such as the dimensions of the towing shackle 14, also apply in relation to the towing shackle 14 described in relation to Figures 1A to 2B Figs. 3-6. Figure 4

[0047] ​It should also be noted that when referred to herein, a vertical axis relates to an imaginary line that passes vertically through the vessel and through its center of gravity, a transverse or lateral axis is an imaginary line that passes horizontally across the vessel and through the center of gravity, and a longitudinal axis is an imaginary line that passes horizontally through the center of gravity of the vessel and through its length parallel to the waterline. Similarly, when referred to herein, a vertical plane relates to an imaginary plane that passes vertically through the width of the vessel, a transverse or lateral plane is an imaginary plane that passes horizontally across the vessel, and a longitudinal plane is an imaginary plane that passes vertically through the length of the vessel.

[0048] Embodiments of products according to the present disclosure (hull of a towing vessel and towing cable) are set out in the following clauses:

[0049] Clause 1 : A hull (1 ) for a towing vessel, comprising

[0050] - a deck (13);

[0051] - a living quarter (19) comprising a stern or bow facing wall (19A); and

[0052] - a towing shackle (14) for guiding a towing cable (10),

[0053] wherein the towing shackle (14) comprises:

[0054] - a guiding element (20) having a symmetrical extension in a first plane parallel to the deck (13), wherein the guiding element (20) comprises a first mounting section (21 A) and a second mounting section (21 B) mounting the guiding element (20) to the hull (1 ), wherein the first mounting section (21 A) and the second mounting section (21 B) are connected by a main section (22) of the guiding element (20), wherein the guiding element (20) comprises a towing cable guiding surface (23) on a bottom side of the main section (22) facing the deck (13), the towing cable guiding surface (23) being configured to slidably contact the towing cable (10) during a towing process, such that the towing cable is free to move along a periphery of the main section (22) in the first plane, while being limited in movement by the main section (22) in a direction perpendicular to the first plane, and

[0055] - a support element (16), wherein the support element (16) is arranged on a top side of the main section (22) and extends from the top side of the guide element (20) at an angle to the first plane to a second plane (30) on the stern- or bow-facing wall (19A) of the accommodation building (19), perpendicular to the first plane and extending through the first and second mounting sections (21A, 21B), wherein the support element (16) comprises a first edge (16A) arranged along the top side of the guide element (20) on and following the circumference of the guide element (20), and wherein the support element (16) comprises a second edge (16B) parallel to and mounted to the ship hull (1) at the second plane (30) on the stern- or bow-facing wall (19A) of the accommodation building (19), the support element (16) thereby forming a housing, such as a roof, covering the guide element (20).

[0056] Clause 2: The ship hull (1) according to clause 1, wherein the guide element (20) of the tow hook (14) has an arcuate form when viewed in the first plane.

[0057] Clause 3: The ship hull (1) according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the guide element (20) has a U-shape when viewed in the first plane, such that the main section (22) comprises two parallel sections (22A) and a curved section (22B), wherein the end sections of the two parallel sections (22A) of the U-shaped guide element (20) constitute the mounting sections (21A, 21B).

[0058] Clause 4: The ship hull (1) according to clauses 1-3, further comprising a chock (15) for guiding the tow line (10), wherein the chock (15) is arranged at a longitudinal centre plane of the tow hook (14).

[0059] Clause 5: The ship hull (1) according to clause 4, wherein the guide element is shaped such that the distance of the tow line guiding surface (23) of the guide element (20) from the chock varies over the circumference of the guide element (20).

[0060] Clause 6: The ship hull (1) according to any one of clauses 4 or 5, wherein the tow hook (14) spans a viewing angle (a) of at least 140° as viewed from the chock (15) in the direction of the longitudinal centre line of the ship hull (1).

[0061] Clause 7: The hull (1) according to any one of the clauses 4 to 6, wherein the support element (16) extends from a top side of the tow hook eye (14) facing away from the deck (13) to a connection point (17) which is further away from the deck in vertical direction of the hull (1) than the chock (15).

[0062] Clause 8: The hull (1) according to any one of the clauses 1 to 7, wherein the tow hook eye (14) is arranged within an inner periphery of the hull (1).

[0063] Clause 9: The hull according to any one of the clauses 1 to 8, wherein a width (W) of the guide element (20) between the first mounting section (21A) and the second mounting section (21B) is adapted to move a tow point away from the longitudinal centre line of the hull (1) towards an outer side of the hull (1).

[0064] Clause 10: The hull (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein a distance from the tow hook eye (14) to the deck (13) is in a range of 10 cm to 200 cm.

[0065] Clause 11: The hull (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the support element (16) comprises a sheet material extending from the top side of the guide element (20) to the second plane such that the support element (16) forms a housing covering the guide element (20).

[0066] Clause 12: The hull (1) according to clause 11, wherein the support element (16) has a first edge (16A) arranged on a circumference of the guide element (20) along the top side of the guide element (20) and following the circumference, and a second edge (16B) parallel to and mounted to the hull at the second plane.

[0067] Clause 13: The hull (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the guide element (20) comprises a lubrication system for lubricating the towline during towing.

[0068] Clause 14: The hull (1) according to clause 13, wherein the lubrication system comprises a plurality of openings (18) in the towline guide surface (23) of the guide element (20) and a lubricant feeding system for feeding lubricant through the plurality of openings (18) onto the towline (10).

[0069] Clause 15: The hull (1) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the hull (1) further comprises a residential building (19), and wherein the second plane is located on a stern or bow facing wall (19A) of the residential building (19).

[0070] Clause 16: The hull (1) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the towing eye (14) is an integral part of the hull (1).

[0071] Clause 17: A towing eye (14) for a towing vessel, wherein the towing eye is configured to guide a towing line, the towing eye (14) comprising:

[0072] - a guiding element (20) having a symmetric extension in a first plane, wherein the guiding element (20) comprises a first mounting section (21A) and a second mounting section (21B) for mounting the guiding element (20) to a hull of the towing vessel, wherein the first mounting section (21A) and the second mounting section (21B) are connected by a main section (22) of the guiding element (20), wherein the guiding element (20) comprises a towing line guiding surface (23) located on a bottom side of the main section (22), the towing line guiding surface (23) being configured to slidably contact the towing line (10) during a towing process, such that the towing line is freely movable along a circumference of the main section (22) in the first plane, while being limited in movement by the main section (22) in a direction perpendicular to the first plane, and

[0073] - a support element (16), wherein the support element (16) is arranged on a top side of the main section (22) and extends from the top side of the guiding element (20) to a second plane at an angle to the first plane, the second plane being perpendicular to the first plane and extending through the first mounting section (21A) and the second mounting section (21B).

[0074] Clause 18: The towing eye according to clause 17, wherein the guiding element (20) of the towing eye (14) has an arcuate form when viewed in the first plane.

[0075] Clause 19: The towing eye (14) according to clause 17 or 18, wherein the guiding element (20) has a U-shape when viewed in the first plane, such that the main section (22) comprises two parallel sections (22A) and a curved section (22B), wherein the end sections of the two parallel sections (22A) of the U-shaped guiding element (20) constitute the mounting sections (21A, 21B).

[0076] Clause 20: A towing shackle (14) according to any one of clauses 17 to 19, wherein the support element (16) has a bottom end (16A) and a top end (16B), wherein the bottom end (16A) is arranged on the guide element (20) and the top end (16B) is configured for mounting to a mounting area located in the second plane.

[0077] Clause 21: A towing shackle (14) according to any one of clauses 17 to 20, wherein the support element (16) comprises a sheet material which extends from the top side of the guide element (20) to the second plane so that the support element (16) forms a shell covering the guide element (20).

[0078] Clause 22: A towing shackle (14) according to clause 21, wherein the support element (16) has a first edge (16A) arranged on and following the circumference of the guide element (20) along the top side of the guide element (20), and a second edge (16B) parallel to the second plane.

[0079] Clause 23: The towing shackle (14) according to any one of clauses 17 to 22, wherein the guiding element (20) comprises a lubrication system for lubricating the towing cable during the towing process.

[0080] Clause 24: A towing shackle (14) according to clause 23, wherein the lubrication system comprises a plurality of openings (18) in the towing cable guide surface (23) of the guide element (20) and a lubricant feed system for feeding lubricant through the plurality of openings (18) onto the towing cable (10).

[0081] The use of the terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth," "primary," "secondary," "tertiary," etc., does not imply any particular order, but are included to identify individual elements. Furthermore, the use of the terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth," "primary," "secondary," "tertiary," etc., does not indicate any order or importance, but rather the terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth," "primary," "secondary," "tertiary," etc., are used to distinguish one element from another. Please note that the words "first," "second," "third," and "fourth," "primary," "secondary," "tertiary," etc., are used here and elsewhere for labeling purposes only and are not intended to indicate any particular spatial or temporal order. Furthermore, the labeling of a first element does not imply the presence of a second element, and vice versa.

[0082] It should be noted that the word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed.

[0083] It should be noted that the word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0084] While features have been shown and described with specific reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made which will embody the spirit of the application and the scope of the appended claims. The specification and drawings should be regarded as illustrative only and should not be used in a limiting sense. The application is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents.

Claims

1. A hull (1) for a towing vessel, comprising - deck (13); and a towing shackle (14) for guiding the towing cable (10), The towing shackle (14) comprises: - a guide element (20) having a symmetrical extension in a first plane parallel to the deck (13), wherein the guide element (20) comprises a first mounting section (21A) and a second mounting section (21B) for mounting the guide element (20) to the hull (1), wherein the first mounting section (21A) and the second mounting section (21B) are connected by a main section (22) of the guide element (20), wherein the guide element (20) comprises a towing cable guide surface (23) on the bottom side of the main section (22) facing the deck (13), the towing cable guide surface (23) being configured to slidably contact the towing cable (10) during the towing process, such that the towing cable can freely move along the periphery of the main section (22) in the first plane while being restricted from movement in a direction perpendicular to the first plane by the main section (22), and - a support element (16), wherein the support element (16) is arranged on the top side of the main section (22) and extends from the top side of the guide element (20) at an angle to the first plane to a second plane (30), the second plane (30) being perpendicular to the first plane, and wherein the support element (16) extends through the first mounting section (21A) and the second mounting section (21B).

2. The hull (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hull (1) further comprises an accommodation building (19), the accommodation building (19) comprising a wall (19A) facing the stern or bow, and wherein the second plane (30) of the support element (16) is located on the wall (19A) facing the stern or bow of the accommodation building (19).

3. The hull (1) according to claim 2, wherein the support element (16) comprises a first edge (16A) arranged on and following the circumference of the guide element (20) along the top side of the guide element (20), and wherein the support element (16) comprises a second edge (16B) parallel to and mounted to the hull (1) at a second plane (30) located on the stern- or bow-facing wall (19A) of the accommodation building (19), the support element (16) thereby forming a shell, such as a roof, covering the guide element (20).

4. Hull (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide element (20) of the towing shackle (14) has an arched form when viewed in the first plane.

5. The hull (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guide element (20) has a U-shape when viewed in the first plane, so that the main section (22) includes two parallel sections (22A) and one curved section (22B), wherein the end sections of the two parallel sections (22A) of the U-shaped guide element (20) constitute the mounting sections (21A, 21B).

6. The hull (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: A fairlead (15) for guiding the towing cable (10), wherein the fairlead is arranged at the longitudinal center plane of the towing shackle (14).

7. Hull (1) according to claim 6, wherein the guide element (20) is shaped such that the distance from the fairlead to the trailing cable guiding surface (23) of the guide element (20) varies over the circumference of the guide element (20).

8. Hull (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the towing shackle (14) spans a viewing angle (α) of at least 140°, viewed from the fairlead (15) in the direction of the longitudinal centreline of the hull (1).

9. A hull (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the support element (16) extends from the top side of the towing shackle (14) facing away from the deck (13) to a connection point (17), and the connection point (17) is farther away from the deck than the fairlead (15) in the vertical direction of the hull (1).

10. Hull (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the towing shackle (14) is arranged within the inner periphery of the hull (1).

11. The hull (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the width (W) of the guide element (20) between the first mounting section (21A) and the second mounting section (21B) is suitable for moving the towing point away from the longitudinal centerline of the hull (1) toward the outside of the hull (1).

12. Hull (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distance from the towing shackle (14) to the deck (13) is in the range of 10 cm to 200 cm.

13. Hull (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the towing shackle (14) is an integral part of the hull (1).

14. A towing shackle (14) for a towing vessel, wherein the towing shackle is configured to guide a towing cable, the towing shackle (14) comprising: - a guide element (20) having a symmetrical extension in a first plane, wherein the guide element (20) comprises a first mounting section (21A) and a second mounting section (21B) for mounting the guide element (20) to the hull of the towing vessel, wherein the first mounting section (21A) and the second mounting section (21B) are connected by a main section (22) of the guide element (20), wherein the guide element (20) comprises a towing cable guide surface (23) on the bottom side of the main section (22), the towing cable guide surface (23) being configured to slidably contact the towing cable (10) during the towing process, such that the towing cable is freely movable along the periphery of the main section (22) in the first plane while being restrained from movement in a direction perpendicular to the first plane by the main section (22), and - a support element (16), wherein the support element (16) is arranged on the top side of the main section (22) and extends from the top side of the guide element (20) at an angle to the first plane to a second plane (30), the second plane (30) being perpendicular to the first plane and extending through the first mounting section (21A) and the second mounting section (21B).

15. Towing shackle according to claim 14, wherein the second plane (30) of the support element (16) is located on the stern or bow facing wall (19A) of the accommodation building (19).

16. A towing shackle according to claim 15, wherein the support element (16) comprises a first edge (16A) arranged on and following the circumference of the guide element (20) along the top side of the guide element (20), and wherein the support element (16) comprises a second edge (16B) parallel to and mounted to the hull (1) at a second plane (30) located on the stern- or bow-facing wall (19A) of the accommodation building (19), the support element (16) thereby forming a housing, such as a roof, covering the guide element (20).

17. The towing shackle according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the guide element (20) of the towing shackle (14) has an arcuate form when viewed in the first plane.

18. The towing shackle (14) according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the guide element (20) has a U-shape when viewed in the first plane, so that the main section (22) comprises two parallel sections (22A) and one curved section (22B), wherein the end sections of the two parallel sections (22A) of the U-shaped guide element (20) constitute the mounting section (21A, 21B).

19. The towing shackle (14) according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the support element (16) has a bottom end (16A) and a top end (16B), wherein the bottom end (16A) is arranged on the guide element (20) and the top end (16B) is configured for mounting to a mounting area located in the second plane.

Images